Boston bars facing closure

[Bob Dobalina]

An item in the Globe this morning - the city plans to close 8 bars in the city by the end of business today for failure to install overhead sprinkler systems (think: Station nightclub fire)
Anyway, here's the list - not sure too many hounds were planning on frequenting any of these hallowed halls...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mass...

[hiddenboston]

I really don't know any of these other than Tavern on the Water and Mary Ann's. Can't say I'm a huge fan of either of those places, though on a quiet night when the temperatures are mild, TOTW can be very nice.

[Shefood]

Tavern on the Water was the onl y one that didn't make the deadline.

Shefood

[hiddenboston]

Yeah, I noticed that gayot.com has the words "THIS ESTABLISHMENT IS CLOSED" in big letters on the Tavern on the Water page within their site. I wonder if/when they will re-open....

[gini]

I'm actually sad to hear about Big City - I haven't been in years, but I remember their foozeball tables and long beer list fondly.

[bostonbroad]

I never go there, but I'm surprised about Big City. And like MC Slim said, it's not like Tavern can't afford it. Maybe they'll just take the closure and aim to open back up near the summer.....

[Allstonian]

According to the Globe article, Big City got caught out because they wasted most of their window of time lodging a protest claiming that they're a restaurant, not a bar. Final judgement went against them this past summer and now they're scrambling.

And the Tavern on the Water folks are claiming that they didn't know they had to have sprinklers when they bought the place.

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

They can't rightly claim to be a restaurant. Believe me, I've had the food there. But I wish they would have been smart enough to survive. Gotta root for any place with a big beer selection.

[bachslunch]

Ralphie, I'm major league in agreement with you about the food at Big City. It showed up on one of Phantom Gourmet's dubious Great Ate lists (I think for pizza) -- believe me, I've had the pizza there, and it more correctly belongs on a Never Again Ate Here list.

[MC Slim JB]

It's not like Tavern on the Water can't afford it; those people are expanding their empire. One new Max and Dylan's and another huge one on the way.

I wouldn't miss Mary Ann's, but I do have some stories about it.

[Bob Dobalina]

Not personally familiar with all the places on the list, but if there were ever a bar where utter catastrophe is regularly but narrowly sidestepped, it is Mary Ann's.

[C. Hamster]

So true.

The Hamster fondly remembers enjoying her 21st birthday at Mary Ann's on 3for1 night. A few years back.

Seriously. There is no acceptable excuse for noncompliance at this point.

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

What a freakin' toilet that place is (literally speaking, sometimes). I'm convinced that they've lasted this long due to B.C. connections, and I have a feeling they'll somehow avoid closing at the last minute, for the same reason.

But if this is what it takes to close down M.A's, Cleveland Circle will be a better place.

[Chrispy75]

M.A's will never close no matter what their voilations are because there are enough Triple Eagles on Beacon Hill looking out for them.

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

My sentiments exactly. How many fights, assaults, underage being served has gotten ignored over the years.

And furthermore, what is the attraction of this place? I thought B.C. folks would have better taste than that.

[Bob Dobalina]

You're a funny man, Ralphie.

[ritcey]

I finally stepped foot in Mary Ann's last year - believe me when I say it's head and shoulders above Punter's (which is sorta-kinda the Northeastern version of Mary Ann's).